A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Grief Interventions for Anxiety and Depression in Young People

Grief in young people is common and associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression, yet grief reduction interventions for this age group are under-researched. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the efficacy of grief reduction interventions in young people. The process adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PsycINFO, Medline, and Web of Science databases were searched in July 2021. There were 27 studies of a grief intervention for young people (14-24 years) and measuring anxiety and/or depression (N = 2740 participants, 59% female). Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for grief demonstrated a large effect for grief and anxiety and medium effect for depression. Meta-regression indicated CBT for grief that included a higher degree of CBT strategies, was not trauma focused, had more than 10 sessions, offered on an individual basis, and did not involve parents, was associated with larger effect sizes for anxiety. Supportive therapy had a moderate effect for grief and anxiety and a small-moderate effect for depression. Writing interventions had a small effect on grief but no effect on anxiety or depression. Studies are limited in number and there were few randomized controlled studies. Findings indicate that CBT for grief is the most effective intervention for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in young people experiencing grief.